New York Giants’ defense is healthy, and lethal

— The Giants‘ success starts with their pass rush, and that’s why they ended Aaron Rodgers’ season last week.

New York sacked Rodgers four times in a 37-20 win and has 17 sacks during its four-game win streak. The return to health of defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck has bolstered an attack spearheaded by Jason Pierre-Paul, who had 16.5 sacks in the regular season.

Umenyiora, who missed seven games with knee and ankle injuries, sacked Rodgers twice, forcing a fumble on one of them. He also had a sack a week earlier in a 24-2 undressing of Matt Ryan and the Falcons.

“I’ve been preaching this all year: Osi is definitely in a league of his own,” safety Antrel Rolle told reporters. “I think he is a unique kind of guy. Not only does he rush the passer, but he gets you the ball. There is no replacing that.”

The Giants were second only to the Eagles (38) with 34 sacks when sending four or fewer pass rushers.

As a result of the defensive line’s resurgence, Rolle and the secondary are playing a lot better. The Giants’ defense is giving up only 12 points a game and has forced nine turnovers during its win streak, and New York is the first team to begin the postseason in the wild-card round and win its first two games by at least 17 points each.

Ten of the 12 previous teams to win their first two playoff contests by such margins went on to win the Super Bowl.

To get there, the Giants know they are not only going to have to get after Alex Smith, but also dig in against 49ers running back Frank Gore as they did in a 27-20 loss in November. New York held Gore – who had 1,211 rushing yards the other 15 games – to no yards on six carries.

“This isn’t going to be a cute football game,” defensive tackle Chris Canty told reporters. “It’s not going to be for the meek and mild. This is going to be a bloodbath; that’s what it’s going to be.

“They do not try to make it a secret: They try to beat you up. We pride ourselves on being a physical football team. Something’s got to give.”

Rushing Alex Smith

49ers quarterback Alex Smith’s stats this season by number of pass-rushers:

4 or fewer

5 or more

Yards/att

6.8

7.5

TD-Int

7-4

10-1

First-down %

29.8

38.8

30-yard plays

7

8*

* one per 20 attempts, versus one per 40.7 when rushed by four or fewer.